THE early-season optimism at Sixways has been severely tested by two consecutive defeats and an ever-growing injury list.

The dislocated shoulder of Andre Van Niekerk has presented the coaches with their first major problem of the new campaign, especially as Lee Fortey is still recuperating from the same injury.

Director of rugby John Brain is preparing to be without his first-choice number two for some time.

"There's no magic cure," he said. "He will be out for six weeks to three months. In the worst case scenario we are not expecting him to play for three months."

In the next ten days, Brain is hoping to secure the services of a new hooker on a three-month contract to ease the burden on Chris Fortey, who only has academy players Iyran Clunis and Alan Keylock as back-up.

Fortey has been pushing hard for a first-team place anyway and he brings plenty of aggression and a decent line-out throw to the side.

He now has the opportunity to establish himself in the side and show that he can complement his undoubted talent with a consistent level of performance.

Centre Dale Rasmussen's knee injury will also keep him out for six weeks, but at least Brain and Anthony Eddy have one or two options with Mark Tucker and Gary Trueman able to fill in. Ben Hinshelwood is another possibility but his appearances may depend on what part he plays in the autumn internationals for Scotland.

Tomorrow, Worcester come up against a relatively star-studded Leicester side who will be confident of getting their campaign for silverware back on course.

Warriors are relying heavily on youngsters and they will be hungry to impress on what is a rare opportunity for them to show what they can do.

On paper, if Pat Howard's side make their experience count, Worcester's Powergen Cup hopes will die a very sudden death at Welford Road.

But that's a passing that wouldn't be mourn-ed for too long at Sixways. The Powergen Cup is one competition that, quite frankly, Worcester can do without.

It may provide much-needed revenue, but the longer Warriors stay in it, the more wear and tear their playing staff will have to endure, and the more pressure there will be on one of the smaller squads in the top flight.

This year seems to be especially brutal and injuries are piling up across the country.

Warriors play a particularly physical brand of rugby, even by Premiership standards, and the management need to be economical with their most-important resource -- the players.

They need as many players fit as possible for next Friday's showdown with Premiership stragglers Leeds.

A number of their crocked stars should be back for that one, hopefully fitter and fresher for the rest. Leeds have one or two injury problems of their own with Iain Balshaw and Tom Palmer the latest to miss training this week.

The last week should not detract from a fine start to the season, however, and, if Warriors rediscover their winning habit against the Tykes, things won't look quite so gloomy.